Topic: Milwaukee Race Riots
Subject: Irmgard Taylor ( My Grandma)
1. What do you remember being the the thing that you found to be most striking?
when I was working at Columbia hospital i remember talking to a friend before we left. She was black and lived in the inner city. I said at least youll be safe because i had thought it was a black against white but she said no, she didn't feel safe. She would have to go to the bar where her husband worked and then they would go home togather because she wasn't safe by her self. I don't know if it was just the over all cahos or if ther was some other danger but i remember she went home with her husband.
2. Did you worry for your or your families safety why or why not?
I wasn't worried or fearful, but I was a bit concerned because we were the first neighborhood to the North East of the city and policemen were stationd along the divide.
3. How did you feel about father Groppi?
I just didn like him he seemed to stirr up alot of trouble, he liked publicity, and we hadn't had to deal with this sort of excitement before and what he did was a bit over the top for me and it didn't seem like it really helped, but rather stirred up the people and created problems.
4. How did the riot effect you emotionaly or directly in your day to day life?
The riot didn't really effect me other than when ever I went to church the priest always seemd to give his own views about the situation and i didnt think that it was appropriate to talk about his opinions there because they may have an unfair influence on those who followed him.
5. What did you think of how Mayor Maier delt with the riot?
I thought he did a fine job but i didn't really have an opinion about him good or bad. I do remeber Police chief Briar though. He was very strict some thought he was raceist but i think he just didnt like all the commotion in the city that these protests were working up. He was a no nonsence sor of person.
6. Did the curfew make any inconveniences for you?
The curfew didn't give me any trouble because all of my grocrees were with in the boundries and I wasnt out and about very late for the most part.
7. Did the protests change your opinion?
The protests didn't change my opinion. I understood the reasons for why they were doing what they were doing but I didn't thinkit really helped thiersituation, and i knew some balck people and was concerned for their safety, but i don't see how people can expect to change someones opinion because most people are set on their beliefs.